Fashioning spindle operating control means for knitting machines



LE ROY D. HILL ET AL FASHIONING SPINDLE OPERATING CONTROL July 21, 1970 MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 25, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IH HI Q m 1 mm wk \NQ L J T@\ W. NQRN M. M L

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July 21, 1970 LE ROY HIL ET'AL 3,521,468

' FASHIONING SPINDLE OPERATING CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 23, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 21, 1970 LE ROY D. HILL ET 3,

FASHIONING SPINDLE OPERATING CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 23, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 21, 1970 LE ROY D. HILL ETAL 3,521,463

FASHIONING E OPERATING CONTROL KNITTING MACHINES NDL 7 Sheets-Sheet 5' SP1 MEANS FOR Filed Sept. 23, 1968 R Q N mvw kww mnw R g 6, s

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FASHIONING SPINDIJE OPERATING TROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHI Filed Sept. 23, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 21, 1970 LE ROY D. HILL ET AL 3,

FASHIONING SPINDLE OPERATING CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING.MA CHINES Filed Sept. 23, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Law United States Patent Olfice 3,521,468 Patented July 21, 1970 3,521,468 FASHIONING SPINDLE OPERATING CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Le Roy D. Hill, West Reading, and Melvin E. Riehl,

Strausstown, Pa., assignors to North American Rockwell Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 761,574

Int. Cl. D04b 11/06 US. CI. 66-89 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention disclosed herein relates to straight bar or full-fashioned knitting machines for knitting fiat fabric blanks and more particularly to means for controlling the operation of fashioning spindles of the machine to fashion the selvages of the fabric blanks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention is directed to means for controlling the operation of the fashioning spindles of a full-fashioned knitting machine including pattern means for controlling the machine in knitting cycles to knit courses of flat fabric blanks, operating means for the fashioning spindles and means operated by the pattern means during a single indexing movement thereof for instituting operation of the operating means for the fashioning spindles at one end of the machine to fashion one salvage of the fabric blanks during one knitting cycle of the machine and for instituting operation of the operating means for the fashioning spindles at the other end of the machine to fashion the other selvage of the fabric blanks during another knitting cycle of the machine.

Description of the prior art conventionally, full-fashioned knitting machines for knitting flat fabric 'blanks are provided with a camshaft having a first position for operating the machine in knitting cycles and a second position for operating the machine in fashioning cycles, a main pattern chain for controlling the movement of the camshaft between the knitting and fashioning positions and fashioning mechanism for fashioning the selvages of the blanks such as shown in US. Pat. No. 2,655,018. The fashioning mechanism includes separate spindles at each end of the machine for controlling the movements of the carrier rods and point combs, separate pawl and ratchet means for each spindle for turning the spindles in both narrowing and widening or back racking directions to narrow and widen the selvages of the blanks, separate means which are simultaneously operated by the camshaft during fashioning cycles for operating the pawl and ratchet means for the spindles at each end of the machine, and cam plates associated with the spindles at each end of the machine for determining the active and inactive positions of the pawls thereat. The cam plates are moved between a normal'or first position in which they activate the narrowing pawls for turning the spindles to narrow the fabric selvages and inactivate the widening pawls and a second position in which the widening pawls are activated to turn the spindles to widen the fabric selvages and the narrowing pawls are inactivated in fashioning cycles of the machine by camshaft operated means which is under the control of the main pattern chain of the machine. The camshaft operated means is also arranged to simultaneously align the cam followers of the pawl operating means for the' spindles at both ends of the machine with other cams on the camshaft for operating the widening pawls to operate the spindles to simultaneously widen both fabric selvages in knitting cycles of the machine.

More recently it became desirable to control the operation of the widening pawls during knitting cycles of the machine to operate the spindles at only one end of the machine to widen the selvages at one side of the fabric blanks in one knitting cycle and to operate the spindles only at the other end of the machine in the next knitting cycle to widen the selvages at the other side of the fabric blanks. In order to simplify the mechanism for controlling the positions of the cam plates, which in turn control the active and inactive positions of the pawls, and the positions of the cam followers associated with the operating means for the pawls, one mechanism was provided for positioning the cam plates at both ends of the machine and a second mechanism was provided to position the cam follower for operating the pawls for the spindles 'at one end of the machine in one knitting cycle and to position the cam follower for operating the pawls for the spindles at the other end of the machine in the next knitting cycle.

The positioning of the cam plates controlling the pawls and the cam followers to fashion both selvages of the fabrics during single knitting and fashioning cycles of the machine and to fashion the selvages of the fabrics in separate knitting cycles as above described could readily be programmed into the pattern chain device of the machine since this pattern device is given an indexing movement during each knitting and fashioning cycle.

Where the machine is provided with a pattern mechanism of the type disclosed in an application of LeRoy D. Hill and Robert H. Sanders, Ser. No. 663,050, filed Aug. 24, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,444,706, assigned to the assignee of the instant application, which includes a pat tern tape, indicia in the form of punched holes may be provided in the tape for controlling the operation of the spindles in fashioning cycles of the machine and for controlling counting means which is arranged to operate the machine for a plurality of knitting cycles between each indexing movement of the pattern tape. The necessary information may also be programmed into the tape by appropriate holes to, upon each indexing movement of the tape, cause the cam plates and cam followers to be positioned to simultaneously operate the spindles at both ends of the machine to fashion the selvages of the fabric blanks during the last knitting cycle of a plurality of knitting cycles determined by the counting means. However, where it is desired to operate the spindles at opposite ends of the machine in separate knittingcycles the tape must be programmed to cause the institution of the operation of the spindles at one end of the machine during one indexing movement thereof and to cause the institution of the operation of the spindles at the other end of the machine during the next indexing movement of the tape.

SUMMARY OF THE- INVENTION Briefly summarized the invention resides in the provision of mechanism for controlling-the operation of the fashioning spindles at opposite ends of a full-fashioned knitting machine including separate means for operating the spindles at each end of the machine in fabricfashioning movements during knitting cycles of the machine, pattern means, means operated by the pattern 'mea'ns'for instituting a plurality of knitting cycles during each indexing movement of the pattern means, means operated by the pattern means during one of theplurality of -knit ting cycles instituted in each indexing movement ofthe pattern means for instituting a fashioning operation of the spindles at one end of the machine during the last knitting cycle instituted while maintaining the fashioning spindles at the other end of the machine inactive, and means operated by the pattern means during said last knittingcycle for instituting a fashioning operation of the spindles at the other end of the machine while maintaining the fashioning spindles at the first mentioned end of the machine inactive during the first of a plurality of knitting cycles instituted during the next indexing movement of the pattern means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a full-fashioned knitting machine having means according to the instant invention for controlling the operation of the fashioning spindles of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of portions of the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 3 and showing parts in cross section and other parts in elevation;

FIG. 5 is a view taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 2 but with the parts shown on an enlarged scale and in dilferent operating positions relative to FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of certain parts of the control mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing other parts of the control mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view on an enlarged scale of portions of the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view on an enlarged scale of further parts of the control mechanism shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a view diagrammatically illustrating an electrical control circuit for the mechanism of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown portions of a full-fashioned knitting machine for knitting flat selvaged fabric blanks, the machine including center frames 10, end frames 11, a front beam 12, a back beam 15 and a front bed 16. The front and back beams, the front bed and a center bed (not shown) are secured to the center frames 10 and end frames 11 to form the usual framework of the machine. Mounted for rotation in the end and center frames is a camshaft 17 which is provided with cams for operating the different mechanisms required in knitting and fashioning the fabric blanks such mechanisms including needles 20 carried in needle bars 21, carrier rods 22 having yarn fingers (not shown) for feeding yarns to the needles and other fabric forming elements of the machine, narrowing head mechanisms 25 and 26 at the left and right ends of the machine, respectively, for controlling the movements of the carrier rods and point comb rods 27 for use in fashioning the selvages of the fabric blanks. The machine also includes a mechanism 30 for shifting the camshaft axially between knitting and fashioning positions and pattern mechanism 31 for controlling the operation of the various mechanisms in knitting and fashioning the fabric blanks.

The mechanism 30 for shifting the camshaft between knitting and fashioning positions is of the conventional type, more fully set forth in U.S. Pat. 2,516,514, issued July 25, 1950', and includes earns 28 and 29 on the cam shaft, a follower (not shown) mounted on a shaft 33 which is axially movable in a bracket 34 carried on the front beam 12 to positions in which the follower acts on the cams to shift the camshaft to either the knitting or fashioning position. The axial movement of the shaft 33 and follower thereon is controlled by a latch member 39 in the manner described in Pat. No. 2,516,514 and the operation of the latch member is in turn controlled by one of a group of similar pattern levers 43 of the pattern mechanism 31 to be hereinafter described.

The left narrowing head mechanism 25 is generally of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,655,018, issued Oct. 13, 1953, and includes a threaded spindle 32 for controlling the movements of the point comb rods 27 to fashion the left selvages of the fabric blanks and a threaded spindle 35 having an end stop nut 36 for controlling the endwise movements of the carrier rods 22 toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, during both knitting and fashioning cycles of the machine. The right narrowing head mechanism 26 includes a threaded spindle 32 for controlling the movements of the point comb rods 27 to fashion the right selvages of the fabric blanks and a threaded spindle similar to the spindle 35, which also has an end stop nut 36 for controlling the endwise movements of the carrier rods 22 towards the right during knitting and fashioning cycles of the machine.

The spindles 32 controlling the point comb rods are each provided with a ratchet 40, shown only at the right end of the machine in FIG. 1, which is acted on by a pawl 41 for turning the spindle in the widening direction, and a ratchet 42 which is acted on by a pawl 45 for turning the spindle in the narrowing direction. Each of the spindles 32 are also provided with a cam plate 46 for moving the pawls 41 and 45 between active and inactive positions. The spindles 35 controlling the endwise movements of the carrier rods 22 are each provided with a ratchet 47 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which is acted on by a pawl 50 for turning the spindle in the widening direction and a ratchet 51 which is acted on by a pawl 52 for turning the spindle in the narrowing direction. Each spindle 35 is also provided with a cam plate 55 for moving the pawls 50 and 52 between active and inactive positions. The ca-m plates 46 and 55 on the spindles of the mechanisms 25 and 26 are connected to each other by a link (not shown) in the manner shown in Pat. No. 2,655,018.

The pawls 41 and 45 for the spindle 32 and the pawls 50 and 52 for the spindles 35 at the left end of the machine are connected to an actuator 56 which is pivotally connected to a cam lever 57 mounted for pivotal movement on the adjacent end frame 11. The lever 57 carries a roller type following 60 for engagement with earns 61 and 6 2 on the camshaft 17 to operate the lever 57 and move the actuator 56 and the active pawls thereon to turn the spindle. The follower 60 is normally positioned between the cams 61 and 62, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the cam 61 is aligned with the follower when the camshaft 17 is shifted toward the right to its narrowing position to operate the pawls and turn the spindles during fashioning cycles of the machine. The follower 60 is movable on the lever 57 to align it with the cam 62 when the camshaft 17 is in knitting position to operate the pawls and turn the spindles during knitting cycles of the machines as hereinafter set forth. The pawls for operating the spindles at the right end of the machine are similarly connected to an actuator '56 which in turn is connected to a cam lever 57 mounted on the adjacent end frame 11. The lever 57 carries a follower 60 for engagement with cams 6-1 and 62 on the camshaft 17 to operate the pawls and turn the spindles in the same manner as the spindles at the left end of the machine.

The follower 60 at the left end of the machine is moved into alignment with the cam 62 associated therewith by one arm 65 of a shifter lever 66 pivotally mounted on the back beam 15. The free end of a second arm 67 of the lever 66 is positioned between a pair of collars 70 secured to a rod 71 extending along the back of the machine and mounted for axial movement in brackets, one of which is shown at 72, carried on the back beam 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The rod 71 carries a collar 75 adapted to engage one arm 76 of a lever 77 of a shifting mechanism 78 (FIG. 4). The lever 77, which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 80 secured to the back beam adjacent the left end of the machine, has a second arm 81 pivotally connected by a universal linkage 82 to one arm 85 of a lever 86 also pivotally mounted on the bracket 80. A second arm 87 of the lever 86 carries a roller follower 90 for engagement with a cam 91 on the camshaft 17. When the follower 90 is permitted to follow the contour of cam 91 the levers 86 and 77 are operated to shift the rod 71 toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, to turn the shifterlever 66 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 to shift the follower 60 into alignment with the cam 62.

The follower 60 at the right end of the machine is moved into alignment with its associated cam 62 by a shifter lever 66 having the free end of its arm 67 positioned between a pair of collars 95 secured to a rod 96. The rod 96 which is mounted on the back beam in the same manner as rod 71, is shifted toward the left to shift the follower 60 toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, to align it with the cam 62 by mechanism indicated generally at 97. The mechanism 97 is identical in all respects to the mechanism 78 described above for shifting the rod 71 and hereinafter the same parts in both mechanism will be referred to by like reference characters.

Normally during knitting cycles of the machine the arm 87 of the lever 86 of the mechanism 78 is held in raised inactive position to prevent the follower thereon from following the cam 91 by support lever 100 pivotally mounted on a bracket 101 carried on the front beam 12 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 9). At this time the rod 71 is held in its position of FIG. 4 by a compression spring 102 on the rod between the bracket 72 and a collar 105 secured to the rod to maintain the collar 75 in engagement with the arm 76 of the lever 77 and to maintain the shifter lever 66 in its position of FIG. 3 to position the follower 60 on the lever 57 between the cams 61 and 62. The arm 87 of the lever 86 of the mechanism 97 is also adapted to be held in raised inactive position by a support lever 106 pivotally mounted on a bracket 107 on the front beam (FIGS. 1 and 9) and the rod 96 is held in its right hand position of FIG. 4 by a compression spring 108 to maintain the shifter lever 66 in position to hold the follower 60 on the lever 57 at the right end of the machine between the cams 61 and 62. The support lever 100 is connected by a rod 110 to a lever 111 pivoted on a pin 113 carried in the bracket 34 and the support lever 106 is also connected by a rod 112 to the lever 111. The lever 111 is operated by one of the pattern levers 43 to move the rods 110 and 112 and the support levers 100 and 106 from beneath the arms 87 of the levers 86 to permit the latter to be operated by the cams 91 to shift the followers 60 into alignment with the cams 62 at the left and right ends of the machine in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The arm 87 of the lever 86 of the mechanism 78 is also adapted to be held in inactive raised position by an auxiliary support lever 115 connected by a rod 117 to the lever 111. The rod 117 moves the auxiliary support lever 115 when the rods 110 and 112 move the support levers 100 and 106 from beneath the arms 87 of the levers 86 in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The cam plates 46 on the spindles 32 and the cam plates 55 on spindles 35 of the narrowing head mechanisms and 26 are normally positioned to permit the operation of the pawls for turning the spindles in the fabric narrowing direction and to inactivate the pawls for turning the spindles in the fabric widening direction when the camshaft is shifted from knitting to fashioning positions. The cam plates are adapted to be moved, from their normal positions to second positions to permit operation of the pawls for turning the spindles in the widening direction and inactivate pawls for turning the spindles in the narrowing direction when the camshaft is in fashioning position and when the followers 60 on the levers 57 are moved into alignment with the cams 62 when the camshaft is in knitting position.

For moving the cam plates 46 and 55 between their normal and second positions on the spindles 32 and at the left end of the machine the cam plate 55 is pivotally connected by a link 121 to one arm 122 of a lever 125 pivotally mounted on a bracket 126 carried on the adjacent end frame 11. The lever 125 has a second downwardly directed arm 127 which is pivotally connected by a link 130 to a bracket 129 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) suitably secured to the left end of a rod 131 mounted for axial movement in brackets (not shown) carried on the back beam 15. The cam plate 55 on the spindle 35 at the right end of the machine is connected by a link 132 to one arm 135 of a lever 136 pivotally mounted on a bracket 137 carried on the adjacent end frame 11. A second upwardly directed arm 140 of the lever 136 is pivotally connected by a link 141 to a bracket 142 which is suitably secured to the right end of the rod 131. A spring 145 connected between the arm 127 of the lever 125 and a fixed part of the machine turns the lever 125 counterclockwise to a position determined by engagement of the arm 122 with a stop screw 146 adjustably carried in a portion 148 of the bracket 126 to hold the rod in its right position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and hold the cam plates on the spindles of the mechanism 25 in their normal positions to permit operation of only the pawls for turning these spindles in the narrowing directions. Also in this right position of the rod 131 the lever 136 is turned clockwise to a position determined by engagement of the arm 135 with a stop screw 146 in the bracket 137, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to hold the cam plates of the mechanism 26 in their normal positions to permit operation of only the pawls for turning these spindles in narrowing directions.

The rod 131 is moved toward the left from its position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, to turn the levers 125 and 136 from the positions of FIGS. 2 and 4, to positions determined by engagement of the arms 122 and 135 of levers 125 and 136, respectively, with stop screws 149 adjustably carried in portions of the brackets 126 and 137, to move the cam plates to the second positions to permit operation of only the pawls for turning the spindles in the widening directions. For so moving the rod 131 to the left, the rod carries a collar 152 for engagement with one arm 155 of a lever 156 of a shift mechanism 158 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). The lever 156 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 157 on the back beam 15 has a second arm 160 which is connected by a universal linkage 161 to one arm 162 of a lever 165 also pivotally mounted on the bracket 157 (see also FIG. 5). A second arm 166 of the lever 165 has a stud 164 for rotatably mounting a roller follower 167 for engagement with a cam on the camshaft 17. The follower 167, which is normally maintained in alignment with the cam 170, is adapted to be shifted axially of the stud 164, against the action of a compression spring 168 on the stud, between the follower and a head portion 169 of the stud, for purposes and in the manner hereinafter set forth. The free end of the arm 166 of a lever 165 is normally held at a level determined by a high portion 171 of the cam 170 by a support lever 172 pivotally mounted on the bracket 101 (FIG. 10) to permit movement of the rod 131 and levers 125 and 136 to the positions of FIGS. 2 and 4. The support lever 172 is connected by a rod 1'75 to a lever 179, pivoted on the pin 113 and the lever 179 is adapted to be operated by one of the pattern levers 43, in the manner hereinafter set forth, to move the support lever from beneath the arm 166 of lever 165, as shown in FIG. 6 to permit the lever 165 to turn clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, under the influence of a low portion 176 of the cam 170 to a position determined by engagement of the free end of the arm 166 with a stop screw 173 adjustably mounted in the support lever 172 (FIG. 6) to move the rod 131 toward the left and move the cam plates to their second positions as hereinbefore set forth.

The pattern levers 43 for controlling the operation of various mechanisms hereinbefore described are controlled and operated by the pattern mechanism 31 which may be of any suitable type but which is preferably of the type disclosed in said patent of Le Roy D. Hill and Robert M. Sanders, Pat. No. 3,444,706, Ser. No. 663,050, filed Aug. 24, 1967, to which reference may be made. Each of the pattern levers 43 is operated to institute operation of its associated mechanism by one arm 177 of one or more actuating levers 180 pivotally mounted on a shaft 181 (FIG. 7). Normally the levers 180 are in inactive positions in which the arms 177 thereon are out of engagement with their associated pattern levers, as shown in FIG. 7, and the levers 180 when selected, as hereinafter set forth, are operated to active positions to move the arms 177, which are of different lengths, to engage and move their associated pattern levers to the required operating positions.

For moving the levers 180 between active and inactive positions each lever has a second arm 182 which is positioned between upper and lower ribs 185 and 186, respectively, of an oscillating member 187 pivotally mounted on the shaft 181. Each actuating lever 180 has an associated lever 190 pivotally mounted on a shaft 191, the lever 190 having one arm 192 the free end of which is adapted to be moved into position between the lower rib 186 of the oscillating member and the arm 182 of the lever 180. Each of the levers 190, except as hereinafter set forth, has a second arm 195 which is normally provided with a nose 194 for engagement with one of a group of selector levers, indicated generally at 197 in FIG. 7, the levers of said group being similar to the levers 122 of said Pat. No. 3,444,706, and each lever having one end pivoted on a shaft 200. Each selector lever 197 is provided with a downwardly extending pin 201 for reading engagement with a row of holes formed in a pattern tape 202 trained over a drum 205 mounted on a shaft 206 carried in a fixed part of the machine and idler rollers, one of which is shown at 207, rotatably mounted in the machine. The drum 205 is operated by pawl and ratchet means (not shown) in the manner set forth in said Pat. No. 3,444,706, to index the tape 202.

The selector levers 197 are normally held in raised inactive positions in which the pins 201 are out of engagement with the tape 202 and the levers 190 are in inactive positions in which the free ends of the arms 192 thereof are out of the path of the lower rib 186 of the oscillating member 187. When the selector levers are moved toward active positions to read the tape 202, those selector levers whose pins 201 encounter a hole in the tape will continue to their fully lowered active positions to move the associated levers 190 to active positions to be operated by rib 186 during a counterclockwise movement of the oscillating member 187 to in turn move the associated actuating levers 180 to operate their associated pattern levers 43. On the other hand the selector levers whose pins 201 engage a blank portion of the tape 202 will be arrested in an intermediate inactive position and the levers 190 associated therewith will remain in inactive positions. Following the movement of the selected actuating levers 180 to operate the pattern levers 43, the levers 180 are again moved to inactive positions to inactivate the associated pattern levers 43. For this purpose a second lever 210 is provided for each selector lever 197 and actuating lever 180. The levers 210, which are pivoted on a shaft 211, each have one arm 212 adapted to be moved between the upper rib 185 of the member 187 and the associated lever 180 and a second arm 215 for engagement with the free end of the associated selector lever. When the selector levers are in raised positions or resting on the tape 202, the selector levers turn the levers 210 to position the arms 212 thereof in the path of the rib 185 of the oscillating member and the latter then acts through the arms 212, during movement of the oscillating member 187 in the clockwise direction, to move those associated levers 180 to inactive positions which were previously moved to active positions.

All of the selector levers 197 are raised to inactive positions by one arm 216 of a lever 217 pivotally mounted on a shaft 220 carried in fixed position in the machine. The lever 217 has a second arm 221 which is connected to a core member 147 of a solenoid 150 and the solenoid 8 is operated by means and in the manner disclosed in said Pat. No. 3,444,706 to permit counterclockwise movement of the lever 217 under the influence of a spring 218 as viewed in FIG. 7, and movement of the selector levers toward active positions under the influence of springs 226.

The pattern mechanism 31 also includes a group of control levers indicated generally at 227 (FIG. 8), similar to the levers 335 of said Pat. No. 3,444,706 pivotally mounted on the shaft 200 and each of the control levers is provided with a pin 201 for reading holes in the pattern tape 202. As disclosed in said Pat. No. 3,444,706 the control levers 227 are shorter than the selector levers 197 and are provided with arms for operating a bank of microswitches which are connected to and operate counting means to set up plain course counting cycles followed by the operation of one or more of the selector levers to operate their associated pattern levers to institute a fashioning or other machine function. The switches and counting means, are in an electrical control circuit which also controls the operation of the indexing means for the tape 202 and the solenoid 150 for moving the selector levers between inactive and active tape reading positions.

When the machine is to be operated in a fashioning cycle to simultaneously narrow both selvages of the fabric blanks at the end of a single knitting cycle, or at the end of a plurality of knitting cycles, a single indexing movement of the tape positions the holes therein for the control levers controlling the counting means to set up the desired number of knitting cycles and positions the hole for the selector lever controlling the camshaft shifting mechanism 30. Thereafter, when the selector levers are lowered during the last knitting cycle set up in the counting means the selector lever institutes an operation of the mechanism 30 to shift the camshaft to fashioning position to operate the narrowing heads to narrow the fabric blanks. Following the fashioning operation the tape is indexed to present another portion of the tape to the selector and control levers. When the selvages of the fabric blanks are to be widened during a fashioning cycle of the machine, in addition to the hole in the tape for instituting operation of the mechanism 30 to shift the camshaft to fashioning position a hole is also provided in the tape for a selector lever, indicated at 1970, associated with pattern lever 43 for moving the support lever 172 from beneath the arm 166 of the lever 165. This permits operation of the lever 165 by cam 170 to shift the rod 131 to the left to move the cam plates on the spindles to their second positions to inactivate the narrowing pawls and activate the widening pawls to operate the spindles in the widening direction as hereinbefore set forth.

When the fabric selvages are to be widened during a knitting cycle of the machine, following a predetermined count of the knitting cycles, a single indexing movement of the tape positions the holes required to operate the control levers to set up the counting cycle in the counting means, a hole for the selector lever 197c associated with the pattern lever 43 for moving the support lever 172 and a hole for a selector lever associated with the pattern lever for moving the support levers and of the mechanism 78 and the support lever 106 of the mechanism 97. Thereafter, when the selector levers are lowered during the last knitting cycle set up in the counting means the selector levers cause operation of the pattern levers to remove the support lever from beneath the lever to permit it to operate to move the cam plates on the spindles at both ends of the machine to positions to activate the widening pawls and inactivate the narrowing pawls, and to move the support levers associated with the mechanisms 78 and 97 to positions to permit operation of both mechanisms to shift the followers 60 into alignment with the earns 62 to simultaneously operate the widening pawls and turn the spindles at both ends of the machine.

At times it is desired to operate the spindles at one end of the machine to widen the selvages at one side of the fabric blanks in one knitting cycle and to operate the spindles at the other end of the machine to widen the selvages at the other side of the blanks in the next knitting cycle. Normally for this purpose the support levers associated with the mechanisms 78 and 97 must be operated to positions to activate the mechanism 78 to shift the follower 60 into alignment with the cam 62 at the left end of the machine and inactivate the mechanism at the right end of the machine in one knitting cycle during one indexing movement of the pattern means, and to inactivate the mechanism 78 and activate the mechanisms 97 to shift its associated follower 60 into alignment with the cam 62 at the right end of the machine in the next knitting cycle during the next indexing movement of the pattern means. Also the support lever 172 must be positioned to permit operation of its associated mechanism to shift the cam plates 46 and 55 to positions to cause operation of the spindlesat both ends of the machine in the widening direction during both indexing movements of the pattern means.

In order to institute the operation of the spindles at the left end of the machine in one knitting cycle and to institute operation of the spindles at the right end of the machine in the next knitting cycle during a single indexing movement of the pattern means in accordance with the instant invention a second one of the selector levers,

indicated at 197b, is employed to operate its associated levers 190 and 180 to move the associated pattern lever 43 to position the support levers 100 and 115 to activate the mechanism 78 to institute operation of the spindles at the left end of the machine and to position the support lever 106 to inactivate the mechanism 97 to idle the spindles at the right side of the machine. Also provided is a third selector lever, indicated at 197a and having a downwardly extending arm 230 adapted to engage and operate a switch 231 when the selector lever is moved to its fully lowered active position, and a lever 232 mounted on the shaft 191. The lever 232 has an arm 235 similar to the arms 192 of levers 190 for operating an associated actuating lever 180 associated with the pattern lever 43 for positioning the support levers 100 and 115 of the mechanism 78 and the support lever 106 of the mechanism 97. The lever 232 has an arm 236, connected by a spring 237 to the selector lever to normally hold the lever 232 in its inactive position of FIG. 7 when the selector lever is in its fully lowered active position, and also has a finger 240. The finger 240 is adapted to beengaged by one arm 241 of a lever 242 pivoted on a stud 245 carried in a fixed part of the machine. A second arm 246 of the lever 242 is slidably connected to a rod 247 between a collar 248 secured to the rod at one side of the arm and a compression type coil spring 251 on the rod between the other side of the arm and a collar 249 fixed on the rod. The rod 247 is pivotally connected to a core member 252 of a solenoid 255 which is connected into an electrical operating circuit with the switch 231 as hereinafter set forth. The core member 252 of the solenoid 255 is operated, in the manner hereinafter set forth, to turn the lever 242 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 7, when the selector lever 197a is moved to its fully lowered position to operate the switch 231. This movement of lever 242 turns the lever 232 clockwise to position the arm 235 thereof between the rib 186 of the oscillating member 187 and the associated actuating lever 180. Thereafter during movement of the oscillating member in the counterclockwise direction the arm 235 turns its actuating lever 180 to operate the associated pattern lever to position the support levers 100 and 115 to maintain the mechanism 78 inactive whereby the spindles at the left end of the machine are idled, and to position the support lever 106 to activate the mechanism 97, as hereinafter set forth, to institute operation of the spindles at the right end of the machine.

Both selector levers 197a and 197b are simultaneously lowered to active positions during a single indexing movement of the pattern means and lever 197b then acts to institute the operation of the spindles at the left end of the machine in one knitting cycle while the lever 197a sets up the operation of the mechanism associated therewith, in the manner hereinafter set forth, to institute the operation of the spindles at the right end of the machine in the next knitting cycle.

When both selector levers 197a and 197b are lowered to active positions to institute operation of the spindles at opposite ends of the machine in separate knitting cycles as above set forth the selector lever 197a associated with the support lever 172 is also lowered to active position to cause the lever 172 to be moved from beneath the arm 166 of the lever to permit it to operate to shift the cam plates 46 and 55 to positions in which they control the widening movements of the spindles at both ends of the machine. However, since the selector levers are immediately raised after instituting their respective functions following the operation of the spindles at the left end of the machine in one knitting cycle, the lever 172 would normally be returned to its position to inactivate the lever 165 after it is raised by cam to return the cam plates to the positions occupied during narrowing operation of the spindles. In order to hold the cam plates in the positions in which they control the widening operation of the spindles at the right end of the machine during the second knitting cycle the lever is maintained in its position determined by engagement of the arm 166 with the stop screw 173. For this purpose the follower 167 on lever 165 is adapted to be shifted, toward the left as viewed in FIG. 2, out of alignment with the cam 170 when the arm 166 is in engagement with the set screw 173 by one arm 265 of a lever 266- pivotally mounted on the arm 166 of the lever 165 (FIGS. 3 and 5). A second arm 267 of the lever 266 is pivotally connected to a core member 270 of a solenoid 271 mounted on the lever 165. The solenoid 271 is normally deenergized to hold the lever 266 in the position of FIG. 3, this position being determined by engagement of the arm 265 with a set screw 272 adjustably carried in a portion 275 of the arm 166, and at this time the follower is in alignment with the cam 170. A normally open switch 276, which is connected to the solenoid as hereinafter set forth, is adapted to be closed by a stud 277 adjustably carried in a bracket 280 secured to the arm 165 when the arm is in its position of FIG. 6. The solenoid 271 is adapted to be energized to operate the lever 266 to shift the follower 1'67 out of alignment with the cam 170, as hereinafter set forth.

Switch 231 and solenoid 255 and switch 276 and solenoid 271 are in an electrical operating circuit which is identical in both structure and operation tothat shown in FIG. 14 of said Pat. No. 3,444,706. Therefore only such parts of the prior circuit which are considered necessary for a complete understanding of the invention will be shown and described herein employing the same identifying reference characters as in said prior application, together with the additional circuitry required to operate the above noted switches and solenoids. As shown in FIG. 11 the operating circuit of said Pat. No. 3,444,706 includes main conductors or buses 375 and 376 connected to a single phase source of electrical energy, a lead 377 connected to the bus 376 and a lead 405 connected to the bus 375. The lead 377 is connected to a counting device 381 through a switch 386 and a normally closed contactor 387 of a switch or relay 390, the switch 386 being operated by a earn 391 on the camshaft 17 to close the circuit through the contactor 387 to reduce the count set up in the counting device by switches 380 and control levers 227 in the manner set forth in said application. The contactor 387 is carried on a core member 392 of the relay 390 which is operated by a coil 395. The switch 386 is also connected through a normally open contactor 396 on the core member 392, which contactor when closed is adapted to operate a second counting device 385, and a normally closed contactor 422 for operating the solenoid 150 and lever 217, hereinbefore set forth. The coil 395 is in a control circuit adapted to move the core member 392 to open the contactors 387 and 422 and to close the contactor 396 to operate, through the counting devices 381 and 385 and relays 397, 401 and 437, the solenoid 150 and lever 217 to lower the selector levers 197 into tape reading position and to operate the solenoid 250 associated with a member 196 (FIG. 8) for indexing the tape 202 in the manner set forth in said Pat. No. 3,444,706.

The core member 392 has a second normally open contactor 281 which is in a circuit including the lead 377, a lead 282, a normally open contactor 285 of a relay 286, the switch 231 and a normally open switch 287 which is adapted to be closed by one of the control levers, indicated at 227a. The core member 392 also has a normally closed contactor 291 which is in a circuit including the lead 282 a normally open contactor 292 of the relay 286 and an operating coil 295 for the core member 252 of the solenoid 255. The normally open contactors 285 and 292 of the relay 286 are carried on a core member 296 which is operated by a coil 297 to close the contactors 285 and 292 in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth. The coil 297 is in a main operating circuit including the lead 377, switches 231 and 287 and the lead 405. The coil 297 is also in a first holding circuit including the contactor 281 of relay 390 and the contactor 285 of the relay 286, and a second holding circuit including a lead 300 which is energized by the switch 386 when this switch is positioned as in FIG. 11 by the cam 391 to open the circuit through contactor 387 of the relay 390, and through contactor 285 of the relay 286 for purposes hereinafter set forth. The switch 276 is in an operating circuit including the switch 287 and a coil 301 for operating the core member 270 of the solenoid 271.

When the spindles at the left end of the machine are to be operated during one knitting cycle and the spindles at the right end of the machine are to be operated in the next knitting cycle of the machine, as hereinbefore set forth, the tape 202 is provided with holes to operate the control levers 227 and close switches 380 to set up a count in the counting device 381 for a plurality of knitting cycles, a hole for operating a control lever 227 to close a switch 382 to set up a single count in the counting device 385 and operate the relay 401 as set forth in said Pat. No. 3,444,706, holes for operating the selector levers 197a and 19712 associated with the pattern lever 43 and lever 111 for operating the support levers 100, 115 and 106, a hole for operating the selector lever 197a associated with the pattern lever 43 and lever 179 for operating the support lever 172, and a hole for operating the control lever 227a to close the switch 287. When the count in the counting device 381 is reduced to zero, the relay 397 is operated to close the circuit to coil 395 to operate the relay 390 to open the contactor 387, to open the circuit through switch 386 to the counting device 381, to close the contactor 396 and close the circuit through the switch 386 to the counting device 385 to remove the single count set up therein and to open the contactor 422 to open the circuit to the coil of the solenoid 150 to permit the levers 197a, 197b and 1970 to be lowered. Also this operation of the relay 390 closes the contactor 281 and opens the contactor 291. Movement of the lever 19712 to its fully lowered position causes operation of the actuating lever 180 associated therewith to move the pattern lever 43 and lever 111 to move the support lever 100 from beneath the arm 87 of the lever 86-. At this time the support lever 115 is only moved to the position indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 9 thereby permitting operation of the lever 86 of the mechanism 78 by the cam 91 to shift the follower 60 into alignment with the cam 62 to operate the spindles at the left end of the machine in the knitting cycle occurring when the count set up in the counting device 385 is removed. Also the support lever 106, although moving slightly at this time,

remains beneath the arm 87 of the lever 86 tomaintain the mechanism 97 and the spindles at the right end of the machine inactive.

Movement of the lever 197a to its fully lowered position closes the switch 231 to close the circuit-through the closed switch 287 and coil 297 to operate the relay 286 to close the contactors 285 and 292. At this time the circuit through the closed contactor 281 of relay 390 and the closed contactor 285 to the coil 297 is also energized to hold the contactors 285 and 292 closed and the circuit through the closed contactor 292 to the coil 295 of the solenoid 255 is deenergized by the open contactor 291. Thereafter when the selector levers are again raised to inactive positions the selector lever 197a permits the switch 231 to open and break the circuit through the switch 287 to the coil 297 but this coil remains energized by the closed contactors 281 and 285. At this time raising the selector lever 197b to inactive position also permits the subsequent operation of the pattern lever 43 and lever 111 to return the support levers 100, 115 and 106 to the full line positions of FIG. 9 to inactivate the mechanism 78 following operation of the spindles at the left end of the machine. Immediately following movement of the selector levers to raised inactive positions the solenoid 250 is operated to raise the control levers 227 to inactive positions and operate the indexing means for the tape 202 to advance the tape to present another group of holes to institute another counting cycle in the counting devices 381 and 385 to be followed, if desired, by another operation of the selector levers 197a, 1971: and 1970 in the manner above set forth.

When the control levers are raised to inactive positions the coil 395 is again deenergized to permit operation of the relay to close the contactors 387, 422, and 291 and open contactors 396 and 281. However, although the circuit through the contactor 281 to the coil 297 of relay 286 is opened at this time, thecircuit through the switch 386 and lead 300 is closed to energize the coil 297 to maintain the contactors 285 and 292 closed and energize the circuit through the closed contactor 291 of relay 390 and contactor 292 to the coil 295 to operate the solenoid 255. Operation of the solenoid 255 at this time turns the lever 242 counterclockwise to operate the lever 232 and its associated actuating lever 180 to move the pattern lever 43 and lever 111 to in turn move the support lever from beneath the lever 86 and the support lever 115 beneath the lever 86 to maintain the mechanism 78 and the'spindles at the left end of the machine inactive. Also movement of the pattern level at this time moves the support lever 106 from beneath the lever 86 of the mechanism 97 to permit its operation to shift the follower 60 into alignment with the cam 62 and permit operation of the spindles at the right end of the machine.

The operation of the solenoid 255 to institute the operation of the spindles at the right end of the machine, as above set forth, occurs during the first knitting cycle following the indexing of the tape 202 when the switch 386 is in its position of FIG. 11. When the switch 386 is operated by the cam 391 to close the circuit through the contactor 387 to the counting device 381 during the first count of the new counting cycle the circuit through the switch 386, lead 300 and contactor 285 is opened to deenergize the coil 297 thereby permitting operation of the relay 286 to open the contactors 285 and 292 and hence the circuit to the coil 295 of the solenoid 255.

Thereafter when the levers and 232 and the pattern lever 43 associated therewith are returned to inactive positions the support levers 100, 115 and 106 are returned to the full line positions of FIG. 9 to inactivate the levers 86 of the mechanisms 78 and 97 and hence inactivate the spindles at both ends of the machine until the zero count of the new counting cycle is reached.

During the initial lowering movement of the selector levers 197a and 197b to institute operation of the fashionafter, the lever 165 follows the cam 170 from the high portion 171 to the low portion of the cam to shift the cam' plates on the spindles at both ends of the machine to their second positions so that operation of the spindles at the left end of the machine will be in'the widening direction as hereinbefore set forth. When the lever 165 reaches the position determined by the stop screw 173 on the support lever 172, as viewed in FIG. 6, the switch 276 is closed by the stud 277 on the lever 165. Since this closing of switch 276 occurs while the control lever 227a is still in its lowered position holding switch 287:

closed, the circuit through switches 276 and 287 to the coil 301 is energized to operate the solenoid 271. Operation of the solenoid 271 in turn operates lever 266 to shift the follower 167 on the lever 165 to the left, as

170 while the lever 165 is in engagement with the stop screw'173 to maintain the cam plates on the spindles in their second positions. When the selector levers 197a, 197b and 197c are again raised to inactive positions as above set forth, the support lever 172 is held in shiftedposition by the lever 165. Also, as above set forth, when the control levers are raised to inactive positions during the indexing movement of the tape 202 the switch 287 is opened to deenergize the circuit to the coil 301 thereby permitting the solenoid 271 to return the lever 266 to its position of FIG. 3. At this time the follower 167 is held out of alignment with the cam 170 by the adjacent face of the high portion of the cam to maintain the cam plates on the spindles in shifted positions for the operation of the spindles at the right end of the machine in the next knitting cycle of the machine, as hereinbefore set forth. Thereafter, when the high portion of the cam 170 again passes the follower 167 during rotation of the cam with the camshaft the follower is realigned with the cam by the spring 168. The lever 165 is then operated to its position of FIG. by the high portion of the cam 170 to return the cam plates on the spindles to their normal positions following the operation of the spindles at the right end of the machine and the support lever 172 is again returned to its supporting position beneath the lever 165 to inactivate this lever in its position of FIGS. 5 and until another operation of the spindles at opposite ends of the machine in separate knitting cycles is instituted by the pattern mechanism 31 in another indexing movement thereof in the manner above set forth.

When holes are provided in the tape for the selector levers 197a, 197-b and 197a, and the control lever 227a in successive indexing movements of the tape 202 to institute an operation of the spindles at opposite ends of the machine in different knitting cycles the cam plates are shifted switch 287 will again be operated by the control lever 227a when the lever 165 is in its position of FIG. 6 to operate the solenoid 271- and the lever 166 to its follower shifting position to prevent realignment of the follower 167 with the cam 170. The lever 165 is then retained in its position of FIG. 6 to hold the cam plates on the spindles in their second positions until the control lever 227a again encounters a blank part of the tape in a subsequent indexing movement of the tape and permits realignment of the follower 167 with the cam 170 to return the cam plates to their normal positions.

viewed in FIG. 3, and out of alignment with the cam It will be understood that the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine for knitting flat selvaged fabric blanks operable through knitting and fashioning cycles, fashioning spindles at opposite ends of said machine, separate means for operating the spindles at each end of the machine for fashioning the selvages of said fabric blanks, separate means for operating said spindle operating means at each end of said machine in said knitting cycles of said machine, pattern means'for controlling the operation of said machine in said knitting and fashioning cycles, means for indexing said pattern means, and first means operated by said pattern means in each indexing movement thereof for instituting a plurality of course forming knittingcycles of said machine, the improvement comprising second means operated by said pattern means in one of said indexing movements thereof for instituting an operation of the operating means for the spindle operating means at one end of said machine during the last knitting cycle instituted in said one indexing movement of said pattern means, and third means operated by said pattern means in said one indexing movement for instituting an operation of the operating means for the spindle operating means at the other end of the machine during the first knitting cycle instituted in the next indexing movement of said pattern means.

2. In a machine according to claim 1 in which said pattern means includes a pattern element and selector levers for selection by said pattern element, and said second means operated by said pattern means includes one of said selector levers which is operated when selected by said pattern element to institute operation of said operating means for said spindle operating means at said one end of said machine, and said third means operated by said pattern means includes a second one of said selector levers which is operated when selected by said pattern element to institute operation of said operating means for said spindle operating means at said other end of said machine.

3. In a machine according to claim 2 in which said third means operated by said pattern means also includes a solenoid and a first normally open switch which is operated to the closed position by said second selector lever when selected by said pattern element to operate said solenoid to institute operation of said operating menas for said spindle operating means at said other end of said machine.

-4. In a machine according to claim 1 in which there is control means having a first position for inactivating said separate operating means for the spindle operating means at both ends of said machine, and said second means operated by said pattern means operates said control means to a second position to institute operation of said operating means for said spindle operating means at said one end of said machine, and said third means operated by said pattern means operates said control means to a third position to institute operation of said operating means for said spindle operating means at said other end of said machine.

5. In a machine according to claim 4 in which said pattern means includes a pattern element and selector levers for selection by said pattern element, and said second means operated by said pattern means includes one of said selector levers and means operated by said one selector lever when selected by said pattern element to operate said control means to said second position, and said third means operated by said pattern means includes a second one of said selector levers and means operated by said second selector lever, when selected by said pattern element, to operate said control means to said third position.

6. In a machine according to claim 5 in which said means operated by said second selector lever includes a solenoid and a switch operated by said second selector lever when selected by said pattern element.

7. In a machine according to claim 1 in which said separate operating means for said spindles at said opposite ends of said machine includes means for turning said spindles in opposite directions, cams on said spindles having first positions to activate said turning means for turning-the spindles in one of said directions, and means for moving said cams between said first positions and second positions to activate said turning means for turning said spindles. in the other of said directions, and there is a fourth means operated by said pattern means for instituting operation of said moving means to move said cams to said second positions in said one indexing movement of said pattern means during operation of said operating means for said spindle operating means at said one end of said machine.

8. In a machine according to claim 7 in which there isafirst inactivating means for said moving means including a member having a first position to inactivate said moving means for said cams to maintain said cams in said first positions, and said fourth means operated by said pattern means operates said member to a second position to institute operation of said moving means to move said cams to said second positions.

9. In a machine according to claim 8 in which said pattern means includes a pattern element and selector levers for selection by said pattern element, and said fourth means operated by said pattern means includes one of said selector levers and means operated by said one selector lever when selected by said pattern element to move said member to said second position.

10. In a machine according to claim 9 in which there is a second means for inactivating said moving means after moving said cams to said second position to maintain said cams in said second positions during operation of said operating means for said spindle operating means at said other end of said machine.

11. In a machine according to claim 10 in which said pattern means also includes control levers for selection by said pattern element and normally open first switches which are closed by said control levers when selected by said pattern element, and said second means for inactivating said moving means includes one of said control levers and one of said first switches, a second normally open switch which is closed when said moving means moves said cams on said spindles to said second positions, and a solenoid which is operated when said first and second switches are closed. 1

12. In a machine according to claim 11 in which there is a rotatable camshaft shiftable between a first position for operating said machine in said knitting cycles and a second position for operating said machine in said fashioning cycles, and said moving means for said cams on said spindles includes a firstlever, a cam on said camshaft, and a follower on said first lever, said follower having a first position in which said cam operates said follower and first lever in said firstposition of said camshaft to move said cams on said spindles to said second positions, and said second means for inactivating said moving means also includes'a second lever, said second lever being operated by said solenoid when said first and second switches are closed to shift the follower out of alignment with said cam on said camshaft.

13. In a machine according to claim 3 in which saidpattern means includes counting -means, control levers for selection by said pattern element, a normally .open second switch associated with each of a group. of said control' levers, and said first means operated by said pattern;

means includes said counting means, a group of said control levers which are operated when selected by-saidpattern element to close said second switches associatedv therewith in said one indexing movement of said pattern means to set up said plurality of knitting cycles in said counting means to be instituted by said first means, and said third means operated by said pattern means also includes a third normally open switch which is closed by,

one of said control levers when selected by said pattern element, an electrical operating circuit in which said counting means and said first, second and third switches are connected, and means in said circuit which is in part controlled and operated by said counting means and in part controlled and operated by said first and third switches when closed to cause operation of said solenoid and institute operation of said operating means for said spindle operating means at said other end of said machine.

References Cited WM. CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner I US. Cl. X.R. 66155 

